Display device

ABSTRACT

A display module including a substrate having a plurality of pixels, a data line that supplies a data signal to a pixel, a current supply line that supplies electric current to the pixel, a data driving circuit that supplies a data signal to the data line, and a gate driving circuit thereon. The plurality of pixels are arranged in a display area of the substrate, and each of the plurality of pixels includes a light emitting device, a first thin film transistor connected to the data line that supplies the data signal, a second thin film transistor connected to the current supply line, and a capacitor. The light emitting device includes a first electrode layer connected to the second thin film transistor, an organic layer formed on the first electrode layer, and a second electrode layer formed on the organic layer.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/364,026, filed Mar. 25, 2019, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 16/127,172, filed Sep. 10, 2018, now U.S. Pat. No.10,242,621, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/710,068, filed Sep. 20, 2017, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,074,311, which isa continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/343,598, filedNov. 4, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,934,724, which is a continuation ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/268,753, filed Sep. 19, 2016, nowU.S. Pat. No. 9,685,115, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/730,160, filed Jun. 3, 2015, now U.S. Pat. No.9,472,136, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/446,489, filed Jul. 30, 2014, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,076,379, which is acontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/874,135, filed Apr.30, 2013, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,803,870, which is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 13/450,523, filed Apr. 19, 2012, now U.S.Pat. No. 8,432,383, which is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 13/225,980, filed Sep. 6, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,169,427,which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/426,368,filed Apr. 20, 2009, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,018,448, which is acontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/264,050, filed Nov.2, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,525,525, which is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 10/105,308, filed Mar. 26, 2002, now U.S.Pat. No. 6,965,363, which claims priority to and the benefit of JapanesePatent Application No. 2001-092836, filed Mar. 28, 2001, the entirecontent of all of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an active matrix display module,especially, pertaining to such display module as being provided withpixels comprising such emitting devices as an EL (electro luminescence)device or a LED (light emitting diode) wherein light is emitted byconducting electric current through such an emitting layer as an organicsemiconductor thin film and with pixels circuits to control the emittingoperation of those pixels.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Recently, the advent of advanced information network system in ourmodern life increases the demand for personal computers, car navigationsystems, portable remote terminals and communication network equipmentor the combined products thereof. For such products as mentioned above,such a display device as being thin in thickness, light in weight and oflower power consumption is suitable so that a liquid crystal display ora display module incorporating such electrooptic devices as aself-luminous EL device or LED therein are in practical use.

The latter display module is characterized in being good at visibility,possessed with wide viewing angle and being suitable for motion displaydue to its high response, which module is said to especially opt forimage display. In particular, a display incorporating an organic ELdevice (also referred to as an organic LED device; hereinafter, referredto as OLED in abbreviation, where appropriate), the emitting layer ofwhich device is made from organic matter, is highly expectable inaccordance with the greater improvement of the luminous efficiencythereof and the progress of the network technology that enhances thefeasibility of image communication. The OLED display is of diodestructure in which an organic emitting layer is interposed between twopieces of electrodes.

As described below, the active matrix driving method in which thin filmtransistors (hereinafter, referred to as TFT where appropriate) serve asthe switching devices of pixels is effective for enhancing the powerefficiency of such OLED display as mentioned above. The operation of theOLED display by the active matrix driving method in the prior arts isdisclosed in the Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Nos. HEI 4-328791and 8-241048 or the U.S. Pat. No. 5,550,066, for instances, the drivingvoltage of which display is disclosed in the International PublicationNo. WO98/36407 and so forth.

The typical pixel structure of the OLED display comprises two thin filmtransistors or TFTs equivalent to a first and a second active devices,the first of which is a switching transistor while the second of whichis a driver transistor, and a pixel driving circuit (hereinafter,referred to as a pixel circuit where appropriate) comprising onecapacitor for a data signal storage device, which pixel circuit controlsthe emitting luminance of the OLED display. The pixels are disposed atthe respective intersections of a matrix in which the data lines havingM in number to which data signals (or image signals) are supplied andthe scanning lines (hereinafter, referred to as gate lines whereappropriate) having N in number are aligned in the arrangement of Nlines×M rows.

To drive the pixels, the scanning signals (gate signals) aresubsequently supplied to the gate lines having N in number so as to putthe switching transistors into on-state condition, and one time of thevertical scanning operation is over within one frame period of Tf so asto freshly supply the on-state voltage to the first gate line.

In the above driving method, the time required for supplying theon-state voltage to one gate line is defined as Tf/N or below.Generally, the value of the one frame period of Tf is in the order of1/60 second in practical use. It should be noted that where one frameperiod is represented with two fields, one field period becomesequivalent to one half of the one frame period.

During the on-state voltage is supplied to a certain gate line, all theswitching transistors that are connected to the corresponding data lineare put into on-state condition, in synchronization with which the datavoltage (image voltage) is simultaneously or subsequently supplied tothe data lines having M rows in number, which arrangement is general inthe active matrix liquid crystal display.

The data voltage, during the on-state voltage (hereinafter, referred toas “on” while the off-state is referred to as “off” where appropriate)is supplied to the gate line, is stored in storage capacitance(capacitor) so as to be maintained substantially as it is during the oneframe period (or one field period). The voltage value of the storagecapacitance regulates the gate voltage of the driver transistor.

Accordingly, the value of the current flowing through the drivertransistor is controlled so as to put the light emission of the OLEDunder control. The response time for the OLED to begin emitting lightupon the application of voltage thereto normally takes one ps or belowso that it manages to follow the motion image of quick tempo. A currentsupply line is provided in order to supply the driver transistor withcurrent, from which line the current for display in response to the datasignal as stored in the storage capacitance is supplied.

The active matrix driving method realizes high efficient operation byperforming light emission over the one frame period. The difference withthe passive matrix driving method, in which the respective electrodes ofthe OLED diode are directly connected to the scanning line and the dataline without the provision of any TFTs, is clear as follows.

In the passive matrix driving method, the current flows through the OLEDonly during the short period when the scanning line is selected, so thatemitting luminance corresponding to practically several times as many asthe number of the scanning lines is required for obtaining the sameluminance as that of the one frame period of the active matrix drivingmethod with the light emission performed during such short period asmentioned above. Thus, it is unavoidable that the driving voltage andcurrent in use enlarge, which causes large loss of power consumptionsuch as heating so as to deteriorate power efficiency.

In view of the foregoing, it is found that the active matrix drivingmethod is superior to the passive one in light of the reduction of powerconsumption.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The passive matrix driving display module as described above is providedwith terminal pads that are intended for leading the scanning lines anddata lines as a whole as crosswise disposed in a display region on thesubstrate out of the same region so as to be connected to a drivingcircuit, which circuit is connected to an external circuit. However,such terminal arrangement is hard to apply to an active matrix drivingdisplay module.

That is, the active matrix driving OLED display module is arranged suchthat current supply to capacitors to keep display over one frame periodis carried out by connecting one electrode thereof to an output terminalof the switching transistors while connecting the other electrodethereof to either a common voltage line for the capacitors or a currentsupply line that supplies current to an OLED.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram to show one example of the prior OLED displaymodule while FIG. 10 is an explanatory view to show the pixelarrangement of the module as shown in FIG. 9. This display module (imagedisplay module) is arranged on a substrate SUB made from such insulatingmaterial as glass such that a data driving circuit DDR, a gate drivingcircuit GDR and a current supply circuit CSS are disposed in thesurrounding of a display section AR as surrounded by the dotted line inthe drawing, in which section the plurality of data lines DL and theplurality of gate lines GL are aligned in a matrix.

The data driving circuit DDR includes a complementary circuit of anNP-channels thin film transistor TFT or a shift register circuit, alevel shifter circuit and an analog switch circuit comprising a single(N or P) channel thin film transistor TFT. To note, the current supplycircuit CSS may be modified into just a bus line while the current maybe supplied from an external power source.

FIG. 9 shows a system in which a common voltage line COML for thecapacitors is provided in the display section AR, to which commonvoltage line COML the other electrodes of the capacitors are connected.The common voltage line COML is led out to an external common voltagesource from a terminal COMT of a common voltage supply bus line COMB. Tonote, another system is also known, in which system the capacitors areconnected to a current supply line without the provision of the commonvoltage line.

As shown in FIG. 10, a pixel PX comprises a first thin film transistorTFT1 or a switching transistor, a second thin film transistor TFT2 or adriver transistor, a capacitor CPR and an organic light emitting diodeOLED, which are disposed in the region surrounded by the data line DLand the gate line GL. The gate of the TFT 1 is connected to the gateline GL while the drain thereof is connected to the data line DL. Thegate of the TFT2 is connected to a source of the TFT1, to which sourceone electrode (positive pole) of the capacitor CPR is connected.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram to further explain the arrangement of thedisplay module as shown in FIG. 9, which module is provided with thepixel arrangement as shown in FIG. 10. The drain of the TFT2 isconnected to a current supply line CSL while the source thereof isconnected to a first electrode (positive electrode herein) AD of theorganic light emitting diode OLED. The other electrode (negative pole)of the capacitor CPR is connected to the common voltage line COMLramified from the common voltage supply bus line COMB. The data line DLis driven by the data driving circuit DDR while the scanning line (orgate line) GL is driven by the gate driving circuit GDR. A currentsupply line CSL is connected to an external power source via a currentsupply bus line CSLB and by way of either a current supply circuit CSSas shown in FIG. 9 or a terminal.

In FIGS. 10 and 11, when the TFT1 is put into on-state condition uponthe selection of one pixel PX by the gate line GL, a video signalsupplied from the data line DL is stored in the capacitor CPR. Then,when the TFT1 is put into off-state condition, the

TFT2 turns into on-state condition so that the current flows from theCSL to the OLED, which current keeps intact practically over one frameperiod. The current in conduction at this time is regulated by a signalcharge stored in the capacitor.

The operation level of the capacitor CPR is regulated by the electricpotential of the common voltage line COML, which controls the lightemitting behavior of the pixel. The current issued out of the OLED flowsfrom the cathode CD thereof to a current drain line that is not shown inthe drawings.

The above system requires the provision of the common voltage line thatgets through a portion of the pixel region, which causes thedeterioration of a so-called aperture ratio and constraints thedisplaying brightness of the module on the whole from improving.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram to show another example of the prior OLEDdisplay module in the similar arrangement to that as shown in FIG. 11.The basic alignment of the TFT1 and TFT2 and the capacitor CPRcomprising the respective pixels is the same as shown in FIG. 9, thedifference with which lies in the fact that the other end of thecapacitor CPR is connected to the current supply line CSL.

That is, when the TFT1 is put into on-state condition upon the selectionof one pixel by the gate line GL, a video signal supplied from the dataline DL is stored in the capacitor CPR, and when the TFT2 turns intoon-state condition while the TFT1 is put into off-state condition, thecurrent flows from the CSL to the OLED, which current keeps intactpractically over one frame period (or one field period) in the same wayas the example shown in FIG. 10. The current in conduction at this timeis regulated by a signal charge stored in the capacitor CPR. Theoperation level of the capacitor is regulated by the electric potentialof the current supply line CSL, which controls the light emittingbehavior of the pixel.

In the prior display modules as described above with reference to FIGS.9 through 12, the source electrode of the TFT2 equivalent to the firstelectrode (anode, for example, which is also referred to as the firstelectrode layer hereinafter) AD of the OLED is formed of a conductivethin film made from such as ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) and the firstelectrodes AD of the respective pixels PX are individually separatedfrom one another.

The second electrode thereof CD comprising an emitting device (cathode,for instance, which is also referred to as the second electrode layerhereinafter) locates at the uppermost position of the diode so as to beexposed to the air, which might cause corrosion thereon. Normally, thesecond electrode layers are made of a film uniformly formed over thewhole pixels, which requires electrical connection with an externalcircuit. In the event where a terminal that is intended for supplyingelectric current to this second electrode layer CD is extensively ledout to the terminal section (terminal pad) of the substrate from thesame layer, the vicinity of that terminal section is prone to corrosionowing to exposure to the air.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view of the structure of the vicinity of onepixel of the OLED display module. This display module is arranged bystacking up on the glass substrate SUB a polysilicone or preferably lowtemperature polysilicone semiconductor layer PSI, a first insulatinglayer IS1, a scanning or gate line (gate electrode) GL, a secondinsulating layer IS2, a source electrode SD formed of aluminum wiring, athird insulating layer IS3, a passivation film PSV, a first electrodelayer AD, an organic emitting layer OLE and a second electrode layer CDone over another in this order.

Upon the selection of the thin film transistor (or driver transistor)comprising the polysilicone semiconductor layer PSI, the gate line GLand the source electrode SD, the organic emitting device comprising thefirst electrode AD in connection with the source electrode SD, theorganic emitting layer OLE and the second electrode layer CD emitslight, which light L is emitted out of the substrate SUB.

In this case, provided that there is corrosion or degradation partiallyfound on the second electrode layer CD of the said pixel, the current isinsufficiently supplied thereto or detours the said pixel so as to causeinsufficient or null light emission, which results in such displayfaults as a so-called dot or region defect.

The present invention is to provide a display module that allows imageto be displayed with high quality by improving a power supply mechanismto the second electrode layers comprising the pixels so as to preventthe same layers from being corroded.

To achieve this purpose, the present invention is arranged such that anelectrode layer in connection with the second layer is provided on thesubstrate wherein the electrode layer is connected to the secondelectrode layer through a contact hole and the outgoing line of thesecond electrode layer is an underlying wiring coated with a passivationfilm on the substrate.

This arrangement provides a display module of high credibility thatprevents cathode from being corroded and allows image to be displayedwith high quality. The characteristic features of the display moduleaccording to the present invention lie in that:

-   (1) A pixel is provided in the respective intersections between a    plurality of scanning lines and a plurality of data lines, which    lines are aligned in a matrix within a display region on a substrate    and a current supply line is provided to supply said pixel with    current for display, wherein said pixel is provided with an active    device that is selected by the scanning line, a data storage device    that stores a data signal supplied from said data line when the    active device is put into on-state condition and an emitting device    that emits light by current supplied from the current supply line    according to the data signal stored in the data storage device,    wherein said emitting device comprises a first electrode layer, an    organic emitting layer coated over the first electrode layer and a    second electrode layer formed on the organic emitting layer, wherein    an electrode layer is provided on the substrate, which layer is    lower than the second electrode layer and coated with an insulating    or passivation film and to which layer the second electrode layer is    connected through a contact hole.-   (2) The arrangement (1) further includes a first terminal pad that    supplies the data signal to a data driving circuit from an external    circuit, a second terminal pad that supplies a gate signal to a gate    driving circuit and a third terminal pad that supplies current to a    current supply bus line and a fourth terminal pad that connects the    electrode layer in connection with the second electrode layer, which    pads are provided in an outside of the display region of the    substrate.-   (3) The arrangement (2) further includes a current supply wiring    that connects the current supply bus line commonly connecting the    current supply lines to the third terminal pad and a wiring that    connects the electrode layer in connection with the second electrode    layer to the fourth terminal pad.-   (4) Either the arrangement (1) or (2) is characterized in that the    first to fourth terminal pads are provided in one side of the    substrate.-   (5) The arrangement (4) is further characterized in that the current    supply wiring and the wiring that connects the electrode layer in    connection with the second electrode layer to the fourth terminal    pad are provided in a side adjacent to the said one side of the    substrate.-   (6) The arrangement (4) is further characterized in that the current    supply wiring and the wiring that connects the electrode layer in    connection with the second electrode layer to the fourth terminal    pad are provided in respective sides adjacent to the said one side    of the substrate.-   (7) Either the arrangement (1) or (2) is further characterized in    that the third and fourth terminal pads are provided in a first side    of the substrate opposed to a second side thereof in which the first    and second terminal pads are provided.-   (8) Any one of the arrangements (2) to (7) is characterized in that    the electrode layer in connection with the second electrode layer is    provided outer than the current supply bus line commonly connecting    the current supply lines on the substrate.-   (9) Any one of the arrangements (2) to (7) is characterized in that    the electrode layer in connection with the second electrode layer is    provided outer than the current supply wiring connected to the    current supply bus line on the substrate.

It should be appreciated that the present invention is not limited tothe above arrangements and the embodiments as described below, but itcan be modified into various manners within the scope of theaccompanying patent claims. The other objects and arrangements of thepresent invention are clarified from the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram to show the arrangement of a first embodimentof the display module according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view to show the arrangement of the pixel circuitcorresponding to one pixel of the display module as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view to show the vicinity of one pixel for explaining thelight emitting mechanism of the display module according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 is a view to show the state where the second electrode layer andthe electrode layer in connection therewith are connected.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram to show the arrangement of a second embodimentof the display module according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram to show the arrangement of a third embodimentof the display module according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram to show the arrangement of a fourth embodimentof the display module according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram to show the arrangement of a fifth embodimentof the display module according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram to show the arrangement of one example of theprior OLED display module.

FIG. 10 is a view to show the arrangement of the pixel of the displaymodule as shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram to show the arrangement of the display moduleas shown in FIG. 9 and provided with the pixel arrangement as shown inFIG. 10 in more details.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram like FIG. 11 to show the arrangement ofanother example of the prior OLED display module.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view to show the arrangement of the vicinity ofone pixel of an OLED display module.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Hereinafter, the preferred embodiments of the present invention aredescribed in details with reference to the accompanying drawings. Theorganic emitting layer of the respective pixels as described below isdivided into one type that emits light with luminance in proportion tothe value of the current and with a color (including white) inherent inan organic material in use so as to display monochrome or color imageand the other type that incorporates a red, green, blue or other colorfilter into the organic layer to emit white light so as to display colorimage.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram to show the arrangement of the firstembodiment of the display module according to the present invention. Thedisplay module of this embodiment is provided with a gate drivingcircuit GDR and a data driving circuit DDR on the glass substrate SUBthereof.

Then, one pixel is formed within the region surrounded by scanning linesGL that are driven or scanned by the gate driving circuit GDR and a dataline DL that is driven by the data driving circuit DDR, which lines arealigned in a matrix, and a current supply line CSL. In one side of thesubstrate SUB, terminal pads PAD1 and PAD2 are provided to supplysignals and voltage to the gate driving circuit GDR and the data drivingcircuit DDR from an external circuit.

FIG. 2 is a view to show the arrangement of the pixel circuitcorresponding to one pixel of the display module as shown in FIG. 1. Inthe present embodiment, one pixel is formed within the region surroundedby a data line DL (m+1), scanning lines GL (n+1) and GL (n) as well asthe current supply line CSL. It is supposed herein that the scanningline that is being scanned or selected is the GL (n+1).

Attention is paid to one pixel PX among the plurality of pixels asselected by the scanning line GL (n+1). The first thin film transistorTFT1 is a switching transistor while the second thin film transistorTFT2 is a driver transistor, which transistors are active devices. Thegate of the TFT1 is connected to the scanning line GL (n+1) while thedrain thereof is connected to the data line DL (m+1) and the sourcethereof is connected to the gate of the TFT2.

The drain of the TFT2 is connected to the current supply line CSL, towhich line the current is supplied from a current supply bus line CSB asshown in FIG. 1 while the source thereof is connected to a firstelectrode layer AD of an organic light emitting diode OLED. One terminalof a capacitor CPR serving as a data signal storage device is connectedto a point where the source of the TFT1 and the gate of the TFT2 connectwhile the other terminal thereof is connected to the scanning line GL(n) right in front of the same.

In the arrangement of one pixel circuit as shown in FIG. 2, one terminalof the capacitor CPR that is connected to a point where the source ofthe TFT1 and the gate of the TFT2 connect is of positive pole while theother terminal thereof that is connected to the scanning line GL (n) isof negative pole.

The organic light emitting diode OLED is arranged by interposing anorganic emitting layer, which is not shown in the drawings, between thefirst electrode layer AD and a second electrode layer CD wherein thefirst electrode layer AD is connected to the source of the TFT2 whilethe second electrode layer CD, which layer is uniformly formed over thewhole pixels, is connected to an electrode layer in connection with thesecond electrode layer CNTB as shown in FIG. 1.

The electrode layer CNTB is a so-called current drain line (electrode),which layer is formed in a lower layer of the substrate or in the samelayer as the terminal pads PAD1 and PAD2 and is connected to the secondelectrode layer CD through a contact hole CNT as well as to the terminalpad PAD4 formed in the same layer as the terminal pads PAD1 and PAD2through a wiring CNTL.

The current supply line CSL that is a wiring of the first electrodelayer is connected through a current supply bus line CSB and a currentsupply wiring CSLL to the terminal pad PAD3 formed in the same layer asthe terminal pads PAD1 and PAD2. The electrode layer in contact with thesecond electrode layer CNTB is disposed on the substrate outer than thecurrent supply bus line CSB and within a sealing area SL thereof asshown with the dotted line in the drawing.

The arrangement hereof as mentioned above that the electrode layer CNTBin contact with the second electrode layer CD through the contact holeCNT is disposed on the substrate outer than the current supply bus lineCSB and within the sealing area thereof facilitates the layout design ona substrate especially when the internal circuits on a flexible printsubstrate are connected to the external circuit at one side thereof.

The data signal, which is written into the capacitor CPR and storedtherein as charge amount when the TFT1 is put into on-state condition,flows electric current supplied from the current supply line CSL as thequantity of current controlled by the charge amount (indicating the grayscale of the data signal) as stored in the capacitor CPR to the organiclight emitting diode OLED when the TFT2 turns into on-stage conditionwhile the TFT1 is put into off-state condition.

The organic light emitting diode OLED emits light with luminance inproportion to the quantity of current as supplied and with a colorinherent in the organic emitting layer material in use. In order todisplay color image, normally, the organic emitting layer materialchanges for the respective pixels of red, green and blue or the colorfilters of the respective colors are incorporated into the organicemitting layer material to emit white light.

To note, the data signal may be supplied in analog quantity or in timesharing digital quantity. The gray scale control may incorporate an areagray scale system wherein the pixel areas of red, green and bluerespectively are divided.

The present embodiment is arranged such that the current flowing out ofthe current supply bus line CSB and the second electrode layer CD afterthe light emitting operation of the respective pixel circuits isdischarged from the electrode layer CNTB or the current drain line,which layer or line is formed in a lower layer of the substrate and overthe whole pixels, to the external circuit through the wiring CNTL andthe terminal pad PAD4.

Thus, in this embodiment, the second electrode layer CD common in thewhole pixels that is uniformly formed in an upper layer of the substrateis connected through the contact hole CNT to the electrode layer CNTB.The wiring CNTL is formed in the same layer as the electrode layer CNTB.

It is normal that the display module of this kind adopts a sealingstructure by means of a can, for instance, in order to secure itsfunction credibility. On the substrate SUB, the sealing area is providedfor attaching such sealing can thereon, within which area the electrodelayer CNTB and the wiring CNTL are disposed. The, at least the electrodelayer CNTB is disposed outer than the current supply bus line CSB.

The electrode layer CNTB and so forth as mentioned above are formed in alower layer of the substrate, on which an insulating or passivation filmis laminated so that there is no case where the second electrode, theelectrode layer in contact therewith preferably including the wiringCNTL have no contact with the air, which prevents them from beingcorroded and improves credibility, with the result that a display modulewith high quality display can be provided. It should be noted that thecontact hole as mentioned above may well be only one, but the pluralityof the contact holes are provided herein for the purpose of stablysupplying as much current as possible.

FIG. 3 is a view to show the vicinity of one pixel for the purpose ofexplaining the light emitting mechanism of the display module accordingto the present invention. FIG. 4 is a view to show the contact portionbetween the second electrode layer and the electrode layer in contacttherewith. The same references of FIG. 1 correspond to the sameelements. The arrow as indicated with the reference I in the drawingstracks the course of the current that contributes to the light emittingbehavior.

The TFT2 is a driver transistor. Upon the selection of this TFT2 by thegate line GL, the current I having a value of the gray scalecorresponding to the data signal as stored in the capacitor CPR issupplied from the current supply line ramified from the current supplybus line to the first electrode layer AD of the organic light emittingdiode OLED through the TFT2.

The organic light emitting diode OLED emits light L having a spectrumcorresponding to the emitting layer material OLE such that the electronsfrom the second electrode layer CD and the holes of the first electrodelayer AD are rejoined inside the emitting layer OLE. The first electrodelayers AD of the respective pixels are independent from each other whilethe second electrode layer CD is uniformly formed over the whole pixels.The current I conducted through the OLED from the TFT2 flows out to theterminal pad PAD4 via the wiring CNTL as shown in FIG. 1 by way of thesecond electrode layer CD and the electrode layer CNTB in contacttherewith. A number of pixels as arranged above are aligned in a matrixso as to provide a two-dimensional display module.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram to show the arrangement of the secondembodiment of the display module according to the present invention. Thesame references of FIG. 1 correspond to the same elements. Thisembodiment is arranged such that the two terminal pads PAD3 and PAD3′ ofthe current supply bus line CSB connecting the current supply lines CSLas well as the terminal pad PAD4 of the electrode layer in contact withthe second electrode layer CNTB are provided in a side of the substrateas opposed to that where the terminal pad PAD1 of the data drivingcircuit and the terminal pad PAD2 of the gate driving circuit GDR areprovided.

The arrangement hereof that the electrode layer CNTB in contact with thesecond electrode layer CD through the contact hole CNT is disposed onthe substrate SUB outer than the current supply bus line CSB and withinthe sealing area thereof facilitates the layout design on the substrate.

According the present embodiment, the current supply wiring CSLL betweenthe current supply bus line CSB and the terminal pads PAD 3 and PAD3′thereof becomes short in length on the substrate, which allows thecurrent to be more uniformly supplied and drained. This makes the lightemitting distribution within the display region uniform, which allowsimage to be displayed with high quality. To note, two sets of thecurrent supply wiring CSLL are exemplified in this embodiment, but itmay be any one of them. In the event where the current supply wiringCSLL is led out of the respective ends of the current supply bus lineCSB, it brings a good effect on symmetry.

The arrangement hereof that the electrode layer CNTB in contact with thesecond electrode layer CD through the contact hole CNT is disposed onthe substrate outer than the current supply bus line CSB and within thesealing region thereof facilitates the layout design on a substrateespecially when the internal circuits are connected to the externalcircuit at the opposed two sides of the flexible print substrate.

The arrangement of the present embodiment allows the wiring pattern inthe vicinity of the sealing region to reduce, which gets rid ofobstacles to block UV rays upon the solidification of a sealing materialso as to cause the sealing material to be effectively hardened. Thissecures the sealing of the module, which leads to the improvedcredibility thereof.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram to show the arrangement of the thirdembodiment of the display module according to the present invention. Thesame references of FIG. 1 correspond to the same elements. The presentembodiment is arranged such that the terminal pad PAD3 of the currentsupply bus line CSB connecting the current supply lines CSL and theterminal pad PAD4 of the electrode layer CNTB in contact with the secondelectrode layer are separately provided in the respective ends of oneside of the substrate where the terminal pad PAD1 of the data drivingcircuit and the terminal pad PAD2 of the gate driving circuit GDR aredisposed.

In the same way as the first and second embodiments, the electrode layerCNTB in contact with the second electrode layer CD through the contacthole CNT is disposed on the substrate outer than the current supply busline CSB and within the sealing region thereof. The other arrangementshereof are the same as those of the first one as shown in FIG. 1, theexplanation of which is omitted to avoid redundancy.

The arrangement hereof that the electrode layer CNTB in contact with thesecond electrode layer CD through the contact hole CNT is disposed onthe substrate outer than the current supply bus line CSB and within thesealing region thereof facilitates the layout design especially when theinternal circuits are connected to the external circuit at one side ofthe flexible print substrate.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram to shown the arrangement of the fourthembodiment of the display module according to the present invention. Thesame references of FIG. 1 correspond to the same elements. The presentembodiment is arranged such that the terminal pad PAD3 of the currentsupply bus line CSB connecting the current supply lines CSL and theterminal pad PAD4 of the electrode layer CNTB in contact with the secondelectrode layer are provided in a side of the substrate as opposed toone side thereof where the terminal pad PAD1 of the data driving circuitand the terminal pad PAD2 of the gate driving circuit GDR are disposed.

In the same way as the first to third embodiments, the electrode layerCNTB in contact with the second electrode layer CD through the contacthole CNT is disposed on the substrate outer than the current supply busline CSB and within the sealing region thereof.

The arrangement hereof that the electrode layer CNTB in contact with thesecond electrode layer CD through the contact hole CNT is disposed onthe substrate outer than the current supply bus line CSB and within thesealing region thereof facilitates the layout on a substrate especiallywhen the internal circuits are connected to the external circuit at theopposed two sides of the flexible print substrate. The otherarrangements hereof are the same as the third embodiment as shown inFIG. 6, the explanation of which is omitted for redundancy.

According to the present embodiment, the current supply wiring CSLLbetween the current supply bus line CSB and the terminal pad PAD3thereof and the wiring CNTL between the electrode layer CNT in contactwith the second electrode layer CD and the terminal pad PAD4 thereofbecome short in length, which allows the current to be uniformlysupplied and be drained. This makes the light emitting distributionwithin the display region uniform, which allows image to be displayedwith high quality.

Then, the arrangement hereof allows the wiring pattern in the vicinityof the sealing area to reduce so as to get rid of obstacles to block UVrays upon the solidification of a sealing material, with the result thatthe sealing material can be effectively hardened. This makes the sealingof the module so as to further improve the credibility of the same.

In the second to fourth embodiments as described above, the currentsupply wiring CSLL and the wiring CNTL that amount to the course of thecurrent occupy a wide area on the substrate with sufficient dimension inthickness, which makes the said secure and stable. Further, especiallyin the second and fourth embodiments wherein the distance with theterminal pads is short in length, it secures more stable course of thecurrent.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram to show the arrangement of the fifthembodiment of the display module according to the present invention. Thesame references of FIG. 1 correspond to the same elements. The presentembodiment is arranged such that the electrode layer CNTB in contactwith the second electrode layer is disposed in a side of the substrate,which side is adjacent to the side thereof where the terminal pads PAD1to PAD4 are disposed and is as opposed to the side thereof where thegate driving circuit GDR is disposed, and outer than the current supplywiring CSLL.

The arrangement hereof that the electrode layer CNTB in contact with thesecond electrode layer CD through the contact hole CNT is disposed onthe substrate outer than the current supply wiring CSLL to lead thecurrent supply bus line CSB to the terminal pad PAD3 and within thesealing area thereof makes the symmetrical layout with the gate drivingcircuit GDR, which makes the whole layout of the substrate wellbalanced. The other arrangements hereof are the same as the firstembodiment as shown in FIG. 1, the explanation of which is avoided forredundancy.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the wiring CNTL betweenthe electrode layer CNTB and the terminal pad PAD4 thereof becomes shortin length so as to allow the current to be uniformly supplied anddrained. This makes the light emitting distribution within the displayregion uniform, which allows image to be displayed with high quality.

To note, in the respective embodiments as described above, the first andsecond electrode layers respectively correspond to the cathode layer andthe anode layer, which can also correspond to vice versus in the presentinvention. Further, the present invention is not limited to the OLEDdisplay module as mentioned above, but it is also applicable to otherdisplay modules that perform the same emitting operation as the OLEDcounterpart.

As described above, according to the present invention, the electrodelayers comprising the pixels of the display module and the vicinity ofthe terminal pads thereof are prevented from corrosion so as to dispensewith display faults. Further, the current is stably and sufficientlysupplied through the current supply line, so that the display modulethat allows image to be displayed with high quality is provided.

What is claimed is:
 1. A display device comprising: a display regioncomprising pixels; scanning lines configured to select the pixels; datalines configured to supply data signals to the pixels; current supplylines configured to supply electric current to the pixels; a currentsupply bus line connected to the current supply lines; a current drainline disposed outer than the current supply bus line; a gate drivingcircuit configured to drive the scanning lines; and a data drivingcircuit configured to drive the data lines, wherein each of theplurality of pixels comprises: a light emitting element; a thin filmtransistor between one of the current supply lines and the lightemitting element; and a capacitor configured to store a gate voltage ofthe thin film transistor, wherein the light emitting element includes: afirst electrode layer connected to the thin film transistor; an organiclayer above the first electrode layer; and a second electrode layerabove the organic layer, wherein the second electrode layer is connectedto the current drain line located outside the display region and formedon a layer at a same level of the first electrode layer.